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College of the Canyons

Public Associate Strong 82/100

College of the Canyons

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Santa Clarita, California

About College of the Canyons

College of the Canyons is a public institution offering associate degrees based in Santa Clarita, California. It enrolls 15,832 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: canyons.edu

Acceptance: —
Graduation: 10.3%
Net Price: $3,702
Median Earnings (10yr): $49,022
Enrollment: 15,832
Student : Faculty: 24:1

Accreditor Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

82/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online

Outcomes 67

Value 97

Affordability 54

Selectivity —

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for College of the Canyons.

Acceptance Rate

—

SAT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

ACT Range (25th–75th)

—

Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending College of the Canyons isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $3,702 per year. That's well below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$3,702

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

18%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees (in-state): $1,166
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state): $10,958
Room & Board (off-campus): $22,086
Books & Supplies: $1,062
Other Expenses (off-campus): $4,968
Total Cost of Attendance: $11,360

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$2,522
$30,001 – $48,000

$3,075
$48,001 – $75,000

$4,980
$75,001 – $110,000

$7,406
Over $110,000

$9,240

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750

10% percentile

$3,000

25% percentile

$9,612

Median percentile

$12,000

75% percentile

$22,267

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $7,375 ↓ $2,237

No Pell $5,250 ↓ $4,362

Dependent students $4,729 ↓ $4,883

Independent students $9,500 ↓ $112

Female students $7,500 ↓ $2,112

Male students $5,500 ↓ $4,112

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,500, less than completers ($9,612), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

10% of full-time students who enrolled at College of the Canyons graduate within six years, and 72% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

10%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

72%

Returning for their second year

What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered College of the Canyons earn a median of $49,022 ten years after first enrolling. That's close to the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$49,022

Earning > $25K

70%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$40,800

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$52,900

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$42,700

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$49,400

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$50,600

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,100, about 23% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 20.8 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Strong. 77% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

College of the Canyons is home to 15,832 students, a sprawling student community. Some distinctive traits: 51% are first-generation college students, 66% study part-time.

Total Enrolled

15,832

Part-Time

66%

First-Generation

51%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

Hispanic 52.1% 8,241

White 25.7% 4,064

Asian 8.7% 1,373

Black 5.8% 920

Other 4.4% 692

International 0.7% 104

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at College of the Canyons. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large Suburb Santa Clarita, California

Housing

Commuter campus No on-campus housing

Adult Learners

41% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NAIA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

Designation

Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI)

What You Can Study

College of the Canyons offers an extensive catalog of programs: 65 distinct programs across 28 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

2 Programs

Liberal Arts

Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)
Liberal Arts $53K ($36K–$73K)

8 Programs

Business

Business Administration $68K ($48K–$94K)
Accounting $76K ($56K–$97K)
General Sales & Distribution $75K ($51K–$102K)

1 Program

Recreation & Fitness

Kinesiology $55K ($39K–$73K)

4 Programs

Health

Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Health Sciences $61K ($43K–$82K)
Clinical/Medical Laboratory $76K ($61K–$92K)

7 Programs

Visual & Performing Arts

Fine Arts $41K ($26K–$57K)
Film & Video Production $44K ($26K–$63K)
Design $51K ($33K–$71K)

1 Program

Interdisciplinary Studies

Biological and Physical Sciences $59K ($41K–$82K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons is 24:1, high (larger classes are common).

Student : Faculty

24:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Instruction / Student

$4,848

Annual instructional spending per enrolled student

Endowment

$3.3M

Modest endowment

Avg Faculty Salary

$123,054

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

237 instructional faculty across 1 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Instructors	237	100%	$123,054

Pros & Cons of College of the Canyons

A quick at-a-glance summary of how College of the Canyons tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Very affordable net price after aid
Low typical debt at graduation
First-gen-friendly student body
Flexible part-time enrollment options

CONS

Larger class sizes than typical
Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
Modest first-year retention
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
No graduate programs offered at this institution

Best for: Based on the data, College of the Canyons is a fit for families focused on keeping net cost low; working adults or students needing part-time study options.

Frequently Asked Questions about College of the Canyons

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about College of the Canyons.

How much does College of the Canyons cost?

The average net price after aid at College of the Canyons is $3,702 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is College of the Canyons worth it?

Strong return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $49,022 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $3,702 per year. That's roughly 13.2x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is College of the Canyons known for?

College of the Canyons is best known for its programs in Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Kinesiology. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do College of the Canyons graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering College of the Canyons are $49,022, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is College of the Canyons accredited?

Yes. College of the Canyons is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges.

How many students attend College of the Canyons?

College of the Canyons enrolls 15,832 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at College of the Canyons?

College of the Canyons graduates 10% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is College of the Canyons a public or private college?

College of the Canyons is a Public institution.

Where is College of the Canyons located?

College of the Canyons is located in Santa Clarita, California.

What programs does College of the Canyons offer?

College of the Canyons offers 65 distinct programs. The most popular include Liberal Arts, Social Sciences, Kinesiology.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons?

The student-to-faculty ratio at College of the Canyons is 24:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.